LOS ANGELES — Maybe it's a sign of these queasy economic times, but rolling in a frugal car suddenly feels cool again. The Nissan Cube is about as frugal—and cool—as B-cars get. The Cube is the third boxy car to hit our shores in the last five years. The Scion xB was the pioneer, back in 2004. And now we have the second-generation xB and Kia Soul too.

We drove through urban Southern Californian neighborhoods in the 2009 Nissan Cube, and got more than a few admiring glances and a thumbs-up or two from pedestrians. It seems the hipsters already know what the Cube is. Nissan is hoping that this aptly named B-car will open doors for Nissan in the same way the Scion xB did for Toyota. The Cube expands on Scion's non-conformist boxy aesthetic. In fact, now that the xB has grown larger, one could argue that the new Cube, even in its own slightly larger footprint, is closer to the original Japanese roots of this small-box trend. Regardless, we had quite a bit of fun with the Cube over the past few days. But does it deliver rewarding, efficient transportation with an equal dollop of fun and funk? Let's find out. —Basem Wasef

The Specs Starting at $13,990 (plus a $695 destination fee), the Cube comes in three basic spec levels: the base 1.8; the 1.8 S, which includes items like upgraded upholstery, a driver armrest and cruise control; and the 1.8 SL, which offers 16-in. alloy wheels, an upgraded stereo, climate control, an automatic continuously variable transmission and a few other goodies. A CVT is optional on the 1.8 S model, and the SL can be had with the Preferred package, which features keyless entry and ignition, steering-wheel audio controls, rear sonar sensors and XM satellite radio, among a few other creature comforts.

Nissan's Krom (as in "chrome") package can be ordered with the 1.8 S, which adds tuner-friendly touches like unique 16-in. alloy wheels, front and rear fascias, a rear roof spoiler, and black and silver seat and door trim inserts. Included are six upgraded speakers and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, aluminum pedal covers, interior accent lighting and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Expect other Nissans to receive the Krom treatment down the line. The Cube can also be customized with over 40 individual accessories (including options like Gortex or shag carpeting trim, not to mention the Interior Designer package, the Interior Illumination package, or—we kid you not—the Ginormous package.)

Though two generations of Cube have been sold in Japan, the version we're getting stateside (which will also service the global market) is based on the Versa platform and incorporates an identical drivetrain to that car's: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed manual or Nissan's Xtronic CVT. Initial estimates peg highway fuel economy at just over 30 mpg, and city figures should be in the mid-20s—slightly less than the Versa, due to the Cube's higher coefficient of drag. Speed-sensitive electric steering is standard, as are safety features like ABS, traction control, electronic brake force distribution with brake assist, and six airbags.

The Drive

Not only are its exterior lines undeniably wonky, you'll encounter a few unexpected proportions when you climb inside a Cube: the interior is framed with enormous ovoid-shaped windows that act like portals to the outside world. The greenhouse is expansive, and even six-footers will have plenty of headroom separating their noggins from the "water-drop" headliner, which looks like a visual representation of the Doppler effect. We dig it, but some may not. Other interior curiosities include door-mounted bungee cords for iPods or loose items.

But there's more purpose than whimsy to the Cube's interior. The large, asymmetrical side-hinged rear door swings open and away from the curb—the opposite of Japanese versions. That was an engineering challenge that required new sheetmetal on our Cubes. But the investment was a smart one. Inside, the cargo area is deep, but not a terribly capacious storage area, though folding down the rear seats (which also slide and recline) enables a total of 58.1 cu ft of cargo. The Cube's interior materials feel inexpensive but pleasantly innocuous, and there's a sense of utility to the cabin. Its "floating" meter pod instrumentation and simple curved surfaces contribute to Nissan's attempt to make the Cube a fun space that's accommodating to younger drivers.

Our Cube was a 1.8 S model equipped with Nissan's trusty CVT; clicking the shifter into "D" and flooring the gas reminded us of driving the Versa. Acceleration is adequately peppy for day-to-day driving, but it's not so overwhelming that it threatens unplanned meetings with law enforcement. Plant the pedal, and revs shoot and hover within a few clicks of the 6500-rpm redline, propelling the Cube with seamless but buzzy acceleration.

Though on some power transitions we found the transmission hesitant, we generally found the Cube's CVT to be efficient and well-suited to the powerplant. The engine revs only as high as it has to, and 60 mph on level ground translates to just over 2000 rpm—a comfortable range for highway cruising. We perceived some road noise from the 15-in. wheels during freeway driving and a faint whistling sound at around 80 mph. The Cube generally commands a solid grip of the road, though rain grooves in asphalt can sometimes derail its directional stability. Bumps are absorbed surprisingly well, and though its road manners exhibit a few rough edges, they aren't obtrusive enough to detract from the Cube's endearing personality.

The Bottom Line

The Cube, as you may have guessed, isn't for everybody. It's an odd bird with polarizing looks and a nonconformist attitude. But, as an economy car that starts at just under $14,000, it's armed with compelling features. Its spaciousness and airy cabin make driving pleasant; there's sufficient power under the hood for darting in and out of traffic and, when the equipment list is just right, it becomes civilized enough to make whiling away the hours behind the wheel relatively painless. And if you dig its milk-truck styling, you'll find lots to love about the Nissan Cube.

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